Letters & Diaries

From Guernsey to Norwich, 1682-style

Another interesting letter from the physician Sir Thomas Browne to his son, describing his beloved daughter Elizabeth's voyage from Guernsey in May 1682 to visit him in Norwich, in the King's yacht Monmouth. Browne died later that year.

It's 1681: what's on the menu in Guernsey?

Three letters from Sir Thomas Browne, polymath and oyster expert. He wrote often to his children, of whom he seems very fond. His favourite daughter Elizabeth married his friend, Captain George Lyttleton, who was appointed Guernsey's Lieutenant-Governor in 1681. There is a copy in the Library of one of Browne's works, Pseudodoxia epidemica, published in 1686, which can be viewed upon request.

Worse than Turks: Adrian Saravia on Guernsey, 1564

A letter from the first headmaster of Elizabeth College, a native of Artois, written in 1564/5 to the Secretary of State, William Cecil.

14 August 1818: A Letter from Gaspe

This letter from a Methodist preacher in Canada is taken from the Magasin Méthodiste of 1818. This French-language publication, intended primarily for Channel Island consumption, was produced at the instigation and probably the expense of the indefatigable Methodist pioneer, Jean de Queteville. The Priaulx Library may be unique in holding a complete run of the magazine, which contains original articles in French and translations of contributions from the English monthly, Methodist Magazine.

May 1945 - The last days : extracts from the Reverend Ord's Occupation Diary

The Library is very pleased to hold a copy of this precious record of the Island's most difficult time. At the end of the Diary the Reverend Ord muses on the nature of the relationship of the Islanders with their German occupiers and thanks God for His mercy.

July two hundred years ago ... or thereabouts

Excerpts, mostly from the Gazette de L'Ile de Guernesey, on this day (or thereabouts) two hundred years ago.

The Harvey Family

Newlands, the Harvey house, from the Priaulx Library Collection

Throughout the occupation of Guernsey (1940-45) Winifred Harvey (1888-1976) kept a diary, which has been edited and published under the title The Battle of Newlands, and which is still in print. In keeping her diary, she followed a family tradition; the Harveys have left behind them comprehensive records from the middle of the 19th century, so detailed that their lives could virtually be reconstructed from them, and much of that material is here at the Library. Their house, Newlands, is illustrated in the photograph above, from the Library Collection.

The Metivier Family

St George from Bellamy's Pictorial Guide

Despite many advantages, the Métivier family, which included George Métivier (1790-1881), philologist and Guernsey's 'national' poet, suffered many ups and downs, and the collection of family letters held in the Library makes entertaining reading. The woodcut is by Dr Thomas Bellamy from his Pictorial Dirctory of 1843 in the Library collection.

Ralph Durand

Ralph Durand (1876-45) came from an important Guernsey Huguenot family and was the Librarian at the Priaulx before and during the Second War. He was an explorer and author whose family history, described here, is full of interest, and includes refugees, soldiers, ministers, a provost of Eton, an actor-manager, and politicians.

Marguerite Le Ber, 1843

Letter from Marguerite Le Ber, Priaulx Library Le Hurel Collection

A letter from Marguerite in Alderney to 'Monsieur De La Mare au Huret, au coin de Mr Jean Robin sur Les cais, Guernesey.' From the Le Hurel collection of de la Mare family documents, donated by E Hatton.

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